Not sure about it being phased out. In my state the MOS is pretty rare, I think we only have 2 units. Why do you want to reclass to 12M if you don't mind me asking? Only reason I ask is because promotion opportunities are much smaller in that MOS, at least the way the units are set up in my state it is. In my state there is only 1 E-6 slot per fire station and that E-6 is the fire chief, also the highest ranking enlisted in the unit. IIRC there are only 2 E-5 slots per station, so again very very limited promotion opportunity overall. Something to consider.

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Never considered that.... though I am E-5 eligible in July of this year... so I suppose I could luck up and land my E5 with one of the units...

When I get back, Im wanting to reclass either way, this is my #1 choice because it's what Im going to do in the civi world also.. so I figured it would help me get on with a department.. and help me when I do get on with one, so I wont be 100% clueless.

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Hey, in Yakima WA, the Army Reserve has an Engineering Company 100% comprised of 12M.

Can't remember it's name, but my cousin is in it, and she's going to AIT at the Department of Defenses Fire Academy! (No kidding!!! The DoD has their own Fire Academy) next week. They are a typical Company size, and the only Army Reserve Unit in Yakima. But I don't know if WA National Guard has Firefighters outside of the Air National Guard out of Plainfield.

I can't say for certain, but I think it's safe to say firefighters will still be in the Army.

Just out of curiosity, would aviation units have their own firefighters? For aircraft crashes and stuff?

BTW, I know this is a Guard forum, but would it matter if she came on here to give info on 12M? (I can ask her)

JRM, I sent her an e-mail and eventually when she gets it she may come on here and give info on her training.

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Retention NCO. That is if your enlistment time is almost up. There could be other issues involved if you are reclassing early and recieved a bonus etc.

Another thing to consider, do you really want to be a fire fighter during the week in your civilian job AND do it for the NG on the weekends? If your answer is yes then cool, more power to you. Otherwise you might want to think about the monotony. For me being a 12B in a line company its pretty nice going to drill on the weekends blowing **** up and leading soldiers, a very nice break from my full time admin job during the week.

You might want to look into a local community college and see if they have any courses for fire science. The community college a few miles away from me has a fire science course, not sure on the length but its a couple semesters worth at least. This particular course held workouts 2 days a week and they were nice enough to let me join in even though I was not in the course nor did I have any interest in becoming a fire fighter lol! The workouts were awesome, flipping tires, pulling hoses and dummys, running up and down bleachers with 80lb sandbags, smashing things with sledge hammers etc. A lot of which was supposed to help train for and destroy the physical test for a FD.

1st of all, chances of your state having that MOS is very slim, secondly even if they have them there is an even slimmer chance there would be vacancies. And lastly, just because you want to reclass after you get back from a deployment, that doesn't mean you'll be able to. People reclass at the needs of the Guard, not the wants of the Soldiers. Also, try not to pay too much attention to the rantings of "future engineer", he continually puts out information as if it is gospel, but he is not even in the military yet.

I am not saying all of that to try to get you down, but rather to simply provide accurate information and a more realistic viewpoint.

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I have been a career firefighter-paramedic for 17 years for a mid-sized department of 100 career men, and previously with a large metropolitan department of 1800+.

While I am uncertain of your current credentials, assuming you are starting at ground zero, I would recommend you contact The North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission in Raleigh. There are several governmental fire service academies in North Carolina that train Firefighter I&II level certification to NFPA 1001 standards. Every municipal fire department has its own individual requirements for employment so you should research what target employers you are considering. In any event, I encourage you to use your G.I. Bill benefits to pursue both degrees in Paramedical and Fire Science. Your veterans status, regardless of MOS, may give you veterans preference points in many agencies. I am uncertain that the uncommon 12M MOS would give you any significant leg up in the hiring process.

She will be on here when she has the time, and she's willing to answer questions about her training.

The training the US Military does, is Firefighter I, II, Aircraft Firefighter I. Or at least that's what she told me, she will know more next week.

And when she's able she promised she'll come on here and answer questions that you have. (If she knows the answer)

Mongoose772, what's it like being a Firefighter?

In your state is Paramedicine or Prehospital Medicine a Bachelors Degree, too? in my state you either have to have a FD grandfather you into a state/federal "apprenticeship" to study into, and recieve your NREMT-P/WAEMT-P. Or get the Bachelors at CWU. (That I know of, correct me if wrong) Is your state any different?

What's it like balancing a career in the Guard, and a career as a Fire Fighter-Paramedic?

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1st of all, chances of your state having that MOS is very slim, secondly even if they have them there is an even slimmer chance there would be vacancies. And lastly, just because you want to reclass after you get back from a deployment, that doesn't mean you'll be able to. People reclass at the needs of the Guard, not the wants of the Soldiers. Also, try not to pay too much attention to the rantings of "future engineer", he continually puts out information as if it is gospel, but he is not even in the military yet.

I am not saying all of that to try to get you down, but rather to simply provide accurate information and a more realistic viewpoint.

+1

Firefighting units are really detachments and not companies. They're popular units so someone has to retire for you to get promoted.

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Honestly kid, I appreciate your zeal but the other member's distaste for some of your wild inaccuracies is understandable. To answer your questions, 1. Being a firefighter is a blue collar vocational job. The pay is mediocre but in some systems the schedule can be very beneficial. This, along with the fact that I have a civilian municipal government employer makes balancing Guard membership reasonably easy.

Secondly, contrary to your post, there is no state in the nation that requires what is known as a first professional degree for entry into paramedic practice. This includes Washington. Central Washington University’s Paramedicine Program is a one year certificate program. After completion continued education to the Bachelor’s level is offered but not required for NREMT-P certification or state licensure. Oregon is the only state in the nation to require a 2 year associates degree for state licensure, but even then a provisional license will be awarded to those seeking reciprocity from another state while they work towards their degree.

If you're looking for experience, you're not going to get it as an Army Firefighter, especially in a reserve/guard unit.

To the public safety industry; Military service is military service. You will without a doubt get an upper hand when your resume is compared to that of a civilian's. But here in Houston, an applicant that is a high speed Army Firefighter, will get no more bonus points than that of an Army Finance specialist. Many other city departments are similar.

If you desire experience, join a volunteer fire department...provided you live in or near one.